Rock Arts of Krishnagiri in Rock Shelters, Balamanery, Pannayamuttu Gundu, Krishnagiri Industrial area, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.

24^th & 25^th August 2019.

The two days Visit was mainly focused on Rock arts in the natural caves / shelters around Kaveripattinam and Krishnagiri. During our visit we had visited 9 natural shelters / hills, where red and white ocher are found. Unlike the Kilvali, Alambadi, Settavarai, Nehanur Patti ( Neganur Patti ) near Villupuram on the banks of river Thenpennai,  these shelters are natural caves formed by the rocks and part of the hills. The presence of white and red ochre rock arts indicates that these shelters are used continuously and the red ochre is considered more than 10 thousand years old.  Some of the shelters are spacious and some are very small. These shelters are facing an open area so that the movements of animal, other groups can be watched. A very important point is the shelter will be close to water sources with easy access.

The artists records the animals that they had seen, ( like Horses, Tiger), birds,  reptiles like snakes, scorpions, celebrations  ( a rhythmic dancing ), hunting of animals, fight between the groups, the cultural activities, sun, Lamps ( Pandil lamps ), patterns, symbols, designs etc,. Since the caves / shelters are used continuously, the rock arts may belongs to different periods.

BALAMANERY – PANNAYAMUTTU GUNDU

The shelter is about 25 to 30 feet from the ground level and has a little passage to climb up. The rock arts consists of two Horse rider with a leading man, Horse with a man, Birds, cock, Peacock, Chasing animals and some design. A white ochre painting ( a mixture of white and red ) depicts an animal may be tiger drawn looking from the top angle and a knife like weapon is shown pierced through the body.   In addition to this red ochre paintings visible faintly on places of the shelter.

 A chasing animal rock art

 A top view of an animal may be a tiger

A red ochre rock art

KRISHNAGIRI INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ( NEAR )

This shelter is almost on the plains. About 20 feet length strip like pattern of wide about 6 inches was drawn in red ochre. In the pattern we could see men and women in various postures, may be dancing postures. The painting is faintly visible.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---